The Fishback Block in 1872
In 1870, ground was broken for the three-story Fishback Block on the site of Jeremiah Kannady's blacksmith shop which manufactured Bowie knives for the Confederate Army. The builder, future Gov. William Meade Fishback (1831-1903), named the 7,000 square foot third floor ballroom after his wife, Adelaide Miller Fishback. Adelaide Hall quickly became the scene of grand balls, beautiful dinner parties, wedding receptions, public meetings and firey political gatherings. City Hall was relocated here. In 1885 the building burned to the ground. Fishback's new two-story building in the same style would be named Adelaide Hall in honor of his wife who had died three years earlier. 110 years later, Adelaide Hall was purchased and completely restored by Richard and Jaunice Griffin.
Erected 2012 by City of Fort Smith and Others.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 35° 23.309′ N, 94° 25.61′ W. Marker is in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in Sebastian County. It is at the intersection of Garrison Avenue (U.S. 64) and 4th Street, on the right when traveling east on Garrison Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 403 Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith AR 72901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Arkansas River Valley, in the Cherokee Heritage Region, and in Osage Territory. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
More about this marker. The markers in this series are placed so that viewers can only read them from the sidewalk while facing the historical subject of the marker.
Also see . . .
1. Adelaide Hall, Fort Smith. (Submitted on January 24, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Historical plaques placed in downtown Fort Smith. (Submitted on January 24, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,659 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 28, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 7. submitted on January 24, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
